Can Horses Think? Everything You Need To Know!
Horses are extraordinary animals, not only because of their majestic appearance, but also because of their noble and sensitive demeanor. There is ample evidence of their ability to learn, remember, and compassion, but can horses think ?
Can horses think?
In order to answer this question, one must first clearly define what is meant by “thinking”. If equidae are expected to assess and understand their environment in the same way as we do, one will surely get a negative answer.
Horses are completely different living beings than humans, so that their way of perceiving and interpreting the world can hardly be identical.
But there are also similarities, because horses are intelligent animals.
The senses are just as important to horses as they are to people. But they have the advantage that their sense organs are better developed.
The way of thinking is of course completely different from that of humans, but nonetheless they are intelligent animals. All different forms of intelligence are admirable and amazing.
Although we still know little about the way these animals think and communicate, it is clear that horses can think .
Horses think and develop in a balanced social structure
A fantastic observation about horses’ intelligence is their ability to learn through a social structure. Horses are very sociable and sensitive creatures; in the wild, they often form large groups to defend and take care of themselves in the community.
Horses live in a balanced family structure. In each herd, a leader can be identified who is responsible for the community’s well-being.
In the relationship between humans and horses, the supervisor usually takes on the leadership role. A healthy relationship is based on obedience, trust and mutual respect between the animal and the trainer.
Foals learn from their mothers
Foals learn and gain experience by observing the behavior of their mother and other adult animals in their environment. They imitate the group’s adult role models.
This learning process is fundamental for the foal to know how to behave in the social structure of its herd. In addition, it gains more and more self-confidence until it can survive on its own.
More interesting facts about the intelligence of horses
You learn with ease and have excellent memories
Those who have seen a horse train know that it is capable of learning quickly. Just like dogs, horses respond optimally to work with positive reinforcement.
By reinforcing the desired behaviors through rewards, you can quickly get the horse to remember them and execute them perfectly.
On the other hand , stressful situations and negative methods such as punishments are extremely counterproductive. A fearful or insecure horse that does not find a positive environment is unlikely to develop its physical, mental, social and emotional abilities optimally.
In addition , the horses are characterized by a high level of memory. On the one hand, this facilitates training and enables them to establish very deep bonds with their supervisors.
However, this strong memory can also lead to trauma and phobias in the animals that have been victims of abuse or mistreatment.
Every horse has a unique personality
Just like humans , every horse has its own unique personality. Although one can talk about basic equine traits, it is impossible to predict the behavior of any particular horse.
The way you express yourself and deal with people, other horses and their environment depends on various factors.
Although genetics play an important role, the behavior of any individual animal is highly dependent on the environment, care, and encouragement from their caregivers.
For this reason , no two horses are the same, neither in appearance nor in behavior. And when adopting a horse, it is important to remember that its intelligence and sensibility require a lot of attention to reach its optimal level.
